| Ai-hanmi | Mutual stance. Partners stand facing one another with the same foot forward |
| Aiki | Harmonising/Unification of ki |
| Ashi | Foot |
| Atemi | A strike, hit or blow |
| Awase | Blending exercise with a partner using jo/bokken |
| Bokken | Wooden sword |
| Chi | Earth |
| Chudan | Middle level eg chudan tsuki – strike to the abdomen |
| Deshi | Student, pupil, disciple |
| Do | Way eg Aikido = The Way of Aiki |
| Dojo | Training hall |
| Domo arigato gozamashita | Thank you very much |
| Dori | Holding eg Katadori – holding the gi at the shoulder |
| Dozo | Please (used when giving permission) |
| Etsunen-geiko | Special New Year’s Eve practice |
| Furitama | Clasped hands/tanden shaking following torifune |
| Futaridori | Being held by two opponents |
| Gassho | Palms together, as if praying |
| Gedan | Lower level eg Gedan Uchi – strike to legs/lower area of body |
| Geiko/Keiko | Practice |
| Gi/Keikogi | Training suit |
| Giri | Cutting |
| Gyaku | Reverse |
| Gyakuhanmi | Opposite stance. Partners stand with opposite feet forward |
| Gyakute | “Reverse hand”. Holding the jo with the palm facing downwards. |
| Hachi no ji gaeshi | Figure of eight circular movement |
| Haishin-undo | Back stretch exercise |
| Hajime | Begin |
| Hanmi | Oblique stance. “Half body” |
| Hanmi-handachi | Techniques performed with Tori (thrower) seated, Uke (attacker) standing |
| Happo giri | Eight direction cutting |
| Hara | Lower abdomen; physical and spiritual centre |
| Hasso | Holding jo or bokken vertically at right shoulder |
| Hidari | Left |
| Hito e mi | Basic back triangle stance. “Making the body small”. |
| Ho | Method eg Kokyu ho – breathing method |
| Irimi | Entering with the body |
| Irimi-ashi | “Back foot irimi” |
| Iriminage | Body-entering throw |
| Jo | Staff/stick, about 4-foot long |
| Jodan | Upper level eg Jodan tsuki – strike to the face |
| Juji | Cross, like the Roman numeral X |
| Junbi undo | Warm-up exercises |
| Jusan no jo | The 13-count jo kata |
| Jutsu | Techniques |
| Jyunte | “Normal hand”. Holding the jo with the palm facing upwards. |
| Kaiten | Turning |
| Kaitennage | Rotary throw |
| Kamae | Posture, stance |
| Kamiza | Place in the dojo where O-Sensei’s picture is placed. |
| Kata | Series of movements eg 13-count jo kata |
| Kata | Shoulder eg Katadori – holding the gi at the shoulder |
| Katana | Japanese sword |
| Katate | One hand |
| Katatedori | One hand held |
| Keiko/Geiko | Practice |
| Keikogi/Gi | Training suit |
| Ken | Sword |
| Kesa | The collar of the gi where it lies across the chest. A blow aimed along this line. |
| Kesagiri | Sword cut along the line of the kesa |
| Ki | “Energy”, “intention” |
| Kihon | Basic |
| Kiri | Cutting |
| Kiriotoshi | Cutting down |
| Kiza | Sitting on the heels, supported by the toes (in seiza, the toes lie on the mat). |
| Kohai | Junior |
| Kokyu | Breath |
| Kokyu-ho | Breathing method |
| Kokyunage | Breath throw |
| Kokyu Ryoku | Breath power |
| Koshi | Hip |
| Koshinage | Hip throw |
| Kote | Wrist |
| Kotegaeshi | Wrist out-turn |
| Kotehineri | Wrist twist. Another name for Sankyo |
| Kotemawashi | Wrist turn-in. Another name for Nikyo |
| Kubi | Neck |
| Kubishime | Neck choke |
| Maai | Distance |
| Mae-ukemi | Forward ukemi |
| Makiwara | Object used for striking practice |
| Men | Strike, blow, cut |
| Menuchi | Same as Shomenuchi |
| Mi | Body eg Irimi – entering with the body |
| Migi | Right |
| Misogi | Purification practice |
| Mitori-Geiko | Learning by observing others |
| Morotedori | Uke (receiver) holds one of Tori’s (thrower’s) arms with both hands |
| Mune | Lapel |
| Munedori | Holding both lapels together, usually with one hand |
| Musubi | Uniting, bonding |
| Nage | Throw or thrower |
| Nagewaza | Throwing techniques |
| Obi | Belt |
| Omote | Front |
| Onegaishimasu | Please (would you do this for me) |
| Osae | Pin, immobilisation |
| Otoshi | Drop |
| Oyowaza | Applied techniques |
| Rei | Bow |
| Renzoku | Continuous |
| Renzoku Uchikomi | Continuous striking attack |
| Ryokata | Both shoulders |
| Ryote | Both hands |
| Ryotedori | Both of Tori’s hands held |
| Ryotemochi | Holding with both hands |
| Sabaki | Movement, motion |
| Sangaku or Sankaku | Triangle |
| Sake | Japanese rice wine |
| Sate | Sit down |
| Seiza | Sitting posture. “Good sitting” |
| Sempai | Senior |
| Sensei | Instructor, teacher |
| Shikko | Knee walking |
| Shime | Strangulation |
| Shimewaza | Strangulation techniques |
| Shihonage | Four-direction throw |
| Shizentai | Natural |
| Shomenuchi | Vertical blow to the head |
| Sode | Sleeve |
| Sodedori | Sleeve held |
| Sokumen | Side |
| Soremade | Finish |
| Soto | Outer, outside eg Sotokaiten nage |
| Suburi | Striking, cutting exercises with jo or bokken |
| Sumiotoshi | “Corner drop” |
| Suwariwaza | Techniques performed in a seated posture |
| Tachi | Sword |
| Tachi | Standing |
| Tachiwaza | Techniques performed from a standing posture |
| Tai | Body |
| Taijutsu | “Body arts” |
| Tai no henko | Body turning |
| Taisabaki | Body movement |
| Tanden | Energy centre in the lower abdomen |
| Tanren Uchi | Makiwara practice with a bokken |
| Tanto | Knife |
| Tatami | Mat |
| Tate | Stand up |
| Te | Hand eg Katate – one hand, Ryote – two hands |
| Tegatana | The edge of the hand. “Hand blade” |
| Ten | Heaven |
| Tenchinage | Heaven-earth throw |
| Tenkan | Turning |
| To | Sword |
| Toma | A great distance |
| Tori | The person who throws |
| Torifune | “Rowing” exercise |
| Tsugi-ashi | “Glide-walking”. “Forward foot irimi” |
| Tsuki | Thrust, punch |
| Uchi | A strike |
| Uchi | Inner eg Uchikaiten nage |
| Uchideshi | A disciple who lives in the dojo and acts as a trainee/attendant to a master |
| Ude | Arm |
| Udegarame | “Arm entanglement” |
| Udekimenage | Another name for jujinage. “Arm focus throw”. |
| Udeosae | Another name for Ikkyo. “Arm pin”. |
| Uke | Receiver of technique |
| Ukemi | The art of falling. “Receiving with the body”. |
| Ura | Behind, rear |
| Ura sankaku | The basic back triangle stance |
| Ushiro | From behind |
| Ushiro ukemi | Backward breakfall |
| Ushiro Kiriotoshi | Cutting down from behind |
| Ushirowaza | Techniques performed against an attack from behind |
| Waza | Technique |
| Yame | Stop |
| Yokomenuchi | Circular strike to the head |
| Yoi | Be ready |
| Za | Sitting |
| Zafu | Firm cushion used for sitting in Zazen |
| Zanshin | Continuing awareness after executing a technique |
| Zazen | “Sitting Zen” |
| Zori | Straw sandals |
